Gas block for a firearm

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a gas block for high rate of fire tactical rifles and carbines such as the M16/AR15 family of firearms. More particularly, an adjustable gas block is disclosed that enables the user to dynamically adjust exhaust gas discharges by manipulating a gas block regulator.

BACKGROUND Field

This invention relates to the general field of a gas block.

Description of the Related Art

Since the introduction of auto-loading firearms (ex: M4, AR-15, AR-10, etc.), the need to regulate the flow of gas from the barrel to the operating system of the firearm has existed. Gas is generated during the combustion of gun powder when a firearm is fired by a user. As the gas expands and travels down the barrel of the firearm with the projectile, a portion of the gas, often referred to as “discharge gas” or “exhaust gas”, is captured and recycled to drive a reloading mechanism, often referred to as the “bolt carrier group”, within the firearm. This is accomplished by a hole or gas port placed through the barrel where a portion of the exhaust gas travels through this hole and is directed back to the upper receiver of the firearm to drive the auto-loading mechanism. The amount of gas needed by the auto-loading mechanism often varies according to a number of factors.

Most auto-loading systems now incorporate a gas block to regulate the amount of exhaust gas captured and returned to the carrier group of the firearm. However, adjustment of the current gas systems requires a special tool and offers no way for the user to modify the system quickly and/or select predetermined gas flow settings.

Accordingly, a need exists for a gas block that can be adjusted by a user quickly and without the use of a special tool.

SUMMARY

An adjustable gas block for a firearm is designed to accommodate a variety of firearm barrels. A firearm barrel configured to accept a gas block can have a gas bore disposed through the barrel to allow exhaust gases (produced during firing) to be transferred from the firearm barrel to the gas block. The gas block can be designed to tighten onto the barrel of the firearm and to be positioned such that a gas channel of the gas block aligns with the gas bore of the barrel. The gas block can then be tightened onto the barrel to hold the gas block into position.

During operation, exhaust gases are transferred from the barrel of the firearm into the gas block through the gas hole, then through the gas channel which is regulated by a regulator, then to the gas tube, and then to the carrier group of the firearm. The amount of exhaust gas allowed to pass through the gas block can directly affect the cycling settings of the firearm. For example, if no gas or an insufficient amount of gas is passed through the gas block, the carrier group will not cycle and a second round will not be loaded into the firing chamber. But in circumstances where sufficient gas is passed through the gas block to cycle the carrier group, the amount of exhaust gas can be regulated to affect a variety of cycling or operating settings, including the direction in which the spent casing is ejected from the firearm.

The amount of gas allowed to pass through the gas block can be pre-determined by the regulator. A user can set the regulator to the desired select position so that the desired amount of gas is allowed through the gas block. Notably, the user may push the regulator into the desired position with his/her finger. By pushing the regulator into a desired position, the user can quickly adjust the amount of exhaust gas passed through the gas block, and effectively adjust the cycling settings of the firearm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a right side view of the gas block, according to one or more embodiments described.

FIG. 2 depicts a rear side view of the gas block, according to one or more embodiments described.

FIG. 3 depicts a cross-sectional side view of the gas block, according to one or more embodiments described.

FIG. 4 depicts a right side view of the gas block and removed regulator, according to one or more embodiments described.

FIG. 5a depicts a top side view of the regulator, according to one or more embodiments described.

FIG. 5b depicts a bottom side view of the regulator, according to one or more embodiments described.

FIG. 5c depicts a side view of the regulator, according to one or more embodiments described.

FIG. 6a depicts a cross-sectional view of the gas block with the regulator in a first select position, according to one or more embodiments described.

FIG. 6b depicts a cross-sectional view of the gas block with the regulator in a second select position, according to one or more embodiments described.

FIG. 6c depicts a cross-sectional view of the gas block with the regulator in a third select position, according to one or more embodiments described.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A design and method for using a gas block is provided. The gas block can include a regulator disposed through a regulator slot. The gas block can also include a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism can include a pin and a spring, and the pin can be configured to lock the regulator into a select position.

When an operator fires a firearm, a controlled explosion occurs and a projectile from a bullet is directed out of the firing chamber and down the barrel of the firearm. Exhaust gas also travels down the barrel, and a portion of that exhaust gas is transferred into a gas bore disposed in the barrel. The exhaust gas can then be directed into the gas block 100. More particularly, a gas hole 113 can be disposed through an inner wall of the gas block 100 and configured to receive at least a portion of the exhaust gas travelling through the barrel of the firearm. The gas block 100 can include one or more regulators 111, one or more pin locking mechanism chamber 137, one or more blowout holes 155, one or more barrel securing mechanisms 105, one or more gas holes 113, one or more gas tube portals 115, one or more vents 109, or any combination thereof.

The gas block 100 can be designed to be conformed and/or tightened onto the barrel of the firearm and be positioned such that the gas hole 113 of the gas block 100 aligns with the gas port of the barrel. More particularly, the gas hole 113 can be aligned with the gas port of the barrel and at least a portion of the exhaust gas can travel into the gas block 100 through the gas hole 113.

The gas block 100 can include a gas channel, void, or tunnel configured to have a fluid (e.g., exhaust gas, etc.) pass therethrough. In one or more embodiments, the gas channel can include the gas hole 113, one or more regulator slots 123, one or more gas directing chambers 117, one or more gas tube ports 115, the one or more blowout holes 155, or any combination thereof. The gas channel can be configured so that exhaust gas entering the gas block 100 through the gas hole 113 can pass through the regulator 111 and/or regulator slot 123 and into the gas directing chamber 117. Once in the gas directing chamber 117, gas can be directed through the gas tube port 115 and into a gas tube (not shown). The gas tube can direct the gas to the carrier group and, if a sufficient amount of gas is provided, the carrier group will cycle. As the carrier group cycles, the spent casing is ejected from the firearm through an ejection port and a second bullet is loaded into the firing chamber and is ready for another firing.

As shown in FIG. 3, a pin locking mechanism 131 can be disposed in the gas block 100. In one or more embodiments, the pin locking mechanism 131 can be disposed in a pin locking mechanism chamber 137. The pin locking mechanism chamber 137 can extend from the front end of the gas block 100 to the regulator slot 123. The pin locking mechanism 131 can include one or more pins 133, one or more springs 135, one or more stops 139, or any combination thereof. The stop 139 can include any device of any shape or size that is configured to secure the spring 135 and pin 133 within the pin locking mechanism chamber 137.

The gas block 100 can be configured to accommodate one or more regulators 111. As a regulator 111 can be designed to a user's desired specifications, the regulator slot 123 can be configured to accommodate numerous regulators and/or the regulators can be interchangeable. Additionally, each regulator can include one or more select positions, each select position can vary in character from another select position on the same regulator 111. For example, a first regulator can be inserted into the gas block 100 for the user to select from a first select position and a second select position, the first regulator can be removed and a second regulator can be inserted into the gas block 100 for the user to select from a third select position and a fourth select position, etc.

In one or more embodiments, a regulator 111 can include one or more select positions, two or more select positions, three or more select positions, four or more select positions, five or more select positions, six or more select positions, seven or more select positions, eight or more select positions, nine or more select positions, or ten or more select positions. Each select position can allow a predetermined amount of exhaust gas to pass through the regulator 111 and, in turn, through the gas tube to the carrier group of the firearm. The exhaust gas can pass through the regulator 111 by way of a hole disposed through the regulator 111, and the amount of exhaust gas allowed to pass through that hole can depend on the diameter or size of the hole. Moreover, the hole at a first select position can be larger or smaller than the hole at a second select position, thereby varying the amount of gas allowed through the regulator 111 depending on which select position is selected by the user.

The regulator 111 can also include one or more push surfaces 141. A first push surface 141 a can be disposed at a first end of the regulator 111 and a second push surface 141 b can be located at a second end of the regulator 111. The push surfaces 141 can be configured to allow the user to push the regulator 111 into the desired select position by pushing either push surface 141 a-141 b with his/her finger or other tool appropriate for pushing or pulling. The regulator 111 can be clicked, snapped or otherwise engaged into a desired select position by moving the regulator 111 along the regulator's T-axis (see FIG. 4) and through the space provided in the regulator slot 123.

The pin 133 can extend or protrude from the pin locking mechanism chamber 137 into the regulator slot 123. The spring 135 and pin 133 can be configured so that the spring 135 pushes the pin 133 into the regulator slot 123 and toward the regulator 111. As shown in FIGS. 4-6, the regulator 111 can have one or more dents (three are shown; 125 a, 125 b, 125 c), each corresponding to a select position of the regulator 111. As a dent 125 in the regulator 111 becomes aligned with the pin 133, the pin 133 can engage the dent 125, locking the regulator 111 into place. In other words, the spring loaded pin 133 can be configured to engage the regulator 111, thereby locking the regulator 111 into a select position. The select positions can be determined by the pin 133 engaging one or more dents 125 a, 125 b, 125 c disposed on the regulator 111. As shown in the Figures, the dents 125 a, 125 b, 125 c can be disposed on a first side of the regulator 111. In one or more alternative embodiments, any one or more of the dents 125 can be disposed on a second side of the regulator 111, on a third side of the regulator 111, on a fourth side of the regulator 111, on a fifth side of the regulator 111, and/or on a sixth side of the regulator 111.

As the pin 133 engages the first dent 125 a, the regulator 111 is locked in a first select position. The first select position can correspond to a complete blocking of exhaust gas, so that no gas passes from the gas block 100 to the gas directing chamber 117. As the pin 113 engages the second dent 125 b, the regulator 111 is locked into a second select position. The second select position can correspond to allowing a smaller, first amount of gas through the regulator 111 and into the gas directing chamber 117. As the pin engages the third dent 125 c, the regulator 111 is locked into a third select position. The third select position can correspond to allowing a larger, second amount of gas through the regulator 111 and into the gas directing chamber 117.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the regulator 111 can include a regulator hole 127 disposed therethrough. Specifically, the regulator hole 127 can be disposed vertically through the regulator 111 to allow gas to flow from the gas hole 113, through the regulator hole 127 in the regulator 111, to the gas directing chamber 117. Once in the gas directing chamber 117, the gas can flow out of the gas block 100 through the gas tube port 115 and/or the blowout holes 155. The gas tube port 115 can be configured to attached and/or receive a gas tube. The size of the regulator hole 127 can directly affect the amount of gas allowed to travel back to the carrier group through the gas tube. As such, a regulator 111 having multiple sized regulator holes 127 is advantageous to a firearm user who wishes to quickly adjust to an exact, predetermined amount of gas to flow through to the carrier group.

Each select position can be defined by a hole, or the absence of a hole, disposed through the regulator 111. The first dent 125 a can correspond with a solid surface (lack of a hole) 127 a on the regulator 111 to prevent any gas from passing through the regulator 111, as shown in FIG. 6a . The second dent 125 b can correspond to a second position, or regulator hole 127 b, on the regulator 111 to allow a first predetermined amount of gas to pass through the regulator 111, as shown in FIG. 6b . The third dent 125 c can correspond to a third position, or regulator hole 127 c, on the regulator 111 to allow a second predetermined amount of gas to pass through the regulator 111, as shown in FIG. 6 c.

The gas block 100 can include an upper portion 101 and a lower portion 103. The upper portion 101 can be attached to or otherwise connected to the lower portion 103. The upper portion 101 can generally include, alone or any combination of: the pin locking mechanism chamber 137, the pin locking mechanism 131 (which can include the spring 125, the stop 139, and/or the pin 133), the regulator slot 123 and the regulator 111 when the regulator 111 is disposed therein, the gas directing chamber 117, the blowout hole(s) 155, and the gas tube port 115. Generally speaking, the upper portion 101 is configured to receive exhaust gas as it enters the gas block 100 through the gas hole 113. As shown in FIG. 2, the gas hole 113 can be disposed through an interior surface of the gas block 100, and can be configured to receive exhaust gas and direct the exhaust gas toward the upper portion 101 of the gas block 100. The gas hole 113 can be in fluid communication with the regulator slot 123. A user may insert the regulator 111 into the regulator slot 123. If the regulator 111 is disposed in the regulator slot 123, the gas hole 113 can also be in fluid communication with the regulator 111. The regulator slot 123 and/or the regulator 111 can be in fluid communication with the gas directing chamber 117. In one or more embodiments, a connecting chamber or portal may be present to direct the exhaust gas from the regulator slot 123 and/or regulator 111 to the gas directing chamber 117. The gas directing chamber 117 can be in fluid communication with the blowout holes 155 (if present) and the gas tube port 115.

In one or more embodiments, the lower portion 103 can be configured to fit around one or more barrels of a firearm (not shown). Accordingly, the lower portion 103 can have an inner surface and an outer surface. At least a portion of the inner surface can be configured to fit around the outer surface of a barrel of a firearm. The lower portion 103 of the gas block 100 can have a variety of shapes, though a suitable shape for the inner surface is round and having a diameter similar to the diameter of the barrel. However, due to the barrel securing mechanism 105, the inner diameter does not have to exactly match the diameter of the barrel, so long as the securing mechanism 105 can be tightened such that the gas block 100 is secured to the barrel. As referred to herein, the upper portion 101 of the gas block 100 can be attached to a top side of the lower portion 103 such that the upper portion 101 is aligned with the hole disposed through the barrel (not shown). In any one or more alterative embodiments, the upper portion 101 of the gas block 100 can be disposed or otherwise connected to any side, including an underside, of the lower portion 103 of the gas block 100 (not shown).

In one or more embodiments, the lower portion 103 of the gas block 100 can have one or more vents 109 disposed therethrough. The vents 109 can provide an advantage to the gas block 100 by providing faster cooling to the gas block 100 and barrel of the firearm. The vents 109 can be configured into a variety of shapes, including a forward slanted square and/or rectangle, as shown. In other embodiments, the vents 109 can be generally round in shape, generally triangular in shape, or generally polygonal in shape. The vents 109 can be disposed entirely through the wall of the gas block 100 to provide visual and physical access to the barrel when the barrel is disposed therein.

The gas block 100 can have one or more barrel securing mechanisms 105. The barrel securing mechanism 105 can be configured to tighten the gas block 100 to the barrel of a firearm. As shown, the gas block 100 can include three barrel securing mechanisms 105. In other embodiments, two or more barrel securing mechanisms 105, three or more barrel securing mechanisms 105, four or more barrel securing mechanisms 105, five or more barrel securing mechanisms 105, six or more barrel securing mechanisms 105, seven or more barrel securing mechanisms 105, or eight or more barrel securing mechanisms 105. The barrel securing mechanism 105 can include one or more fasteners. For example, the barrel securing mechanism 105 can include one or more, either alone or in combination, of the following fasteners: screw, pin, latch, bolt, lock, clip, clamp, and/or any suitable device capable of tightening the gas block 100 to a barrel of a firearm.

In one or more embodiments, the barrel securing mechanism 105 can include a threaded hole disposed through the gas block 100 and configured such that a screw could be disposed in the threaded hole and thereby tighten the gas block 100 onto a barrel of a firearm. As shown, the barrel securing mechanism 105 can include a hole disposed through a lower portion of the gas block 100, extending from a first side of the gas block 100 to a second side of the gas block 100, such that a screw disposed therein and tightened would draw the first side of the gas block 100 closer to the second side of the gas block 100. Due to the tightening ability of the gas block 100, a divide or strip of the gas block 100 may be absent so that tightening the barrel securing mechanism 105 results in drawing the appropriate portions of the gas block 100 together.

Certain embodiments and features have been described using a set of numerical upper limits and a set of numerical lower limits. It should be appreciated that ranges including the combination of any two values, e.g., the combination of any lower value with any upper value, the combination of any two lower values, and/or the combination of any two upper values are contemplated unless otherwise indicated. Certain lower limits, upper limits and ranges appear in one or more claims below. All numerical values are “about” or “approximately” the indicated value, and take into account experimental error and variations that would be expected by a person having ordinary skill in the art.

Various terms have been defined above. To the extent a term used in a claim is not defined above, it should be given the broadest definition persons in the pertinent art have given that term as reflected in at least one printed publication or issued patent. Furthermore, all patents, test procedures, and other documents cited in this application are fully incorporated by reference to the extent such disclosure is not inconsistent with this application and for all jurisdictions in which such incorporation is permitted.

While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow. 

1. A gas block, comprising: a regulator disposed through a regulator slot; a locking mechanism comprising a pin and a spring, wherein the pin is configured to lock the regulator into one or more select positions, wherein the gas block is configured such that an operator may push the regulator into any one of the one or more select positions using his finger.
 2. The gas block of claim 1, further comprising a push surface disposed about a first end of the regulator, wherein the regulator is configured to be pushed into the one or more select positions by pushing the push surface.
 3. The gas block of claim 1, wherein the gas block is configured to be secured to a barrel of a firearm.
 4. The gas block of claim 1, wherein each select position is configured to allow a predetermined amount of gas through a gas channel disposed through the gas block.
 5. The gas block of claim 4, wherein the gas channel further comprises: a gas hole disposed on an inner surface of the gas block, wherein the gas hole is configured to receive exhaust gas from a barrel of a fire arm; a regulator hole disposed through the regulator, wherein the regulator hole is in fluid connection with the gas hole; a gas directing chamber, wherein the gas directing chamber is in fluid connection with the regulator hole; a gas tube port, wherein the gas tube port is in fluid connection with the gas directing chamber and wherein the gas tube port it configured to allow gas to flow out of the gas block.
 6. A gas block, comprising: a gas channel; a pin locking mechanism disposed in a pin locking mechanism chamber, wherein the pin locking mechanism comprises a pin and a spring; a regulator slot configured to have a regulator disposed therein, wherein the regulator comprises a first select position, a second select position, and a third select position, wherein an operator can push the regulator into any one of the select positions using his finger; wherein the pin is configured to secure the regulator into the desired select position, and wherein the regulator is configured to regulate an amount of gas passing through the gas channel.
 7. (canceled)
 8. (canceled)
 9. The gas block of claim 1, wherein the regulator comprises one or more dents, each dent corresponding to a select position.
 10. The gas block of claim 9, wherein the regulator comprises three or more dents.
 11. The gas block of claim 1, wherein the regulator comprises three or more select positions, wherein a first select position is configured to allow a first amount of exhaust gas to pass through the gas block, wherein a second select position is configured to allow a second amount of exhaust gas to pass through the gas block, and wherein a third select position is configured to allow a third amount of gas to pass through the gas block.
 12. The gas block of claim 11, wherein the first amount of exhaust gas is zero, such that no exhaust gas is allowed to pass through the gas block. 